'Pictures of a Season' :: The BGMC's Arranger Opens Up About His Gift of Music

Chad Weirick, the Boston Gay Men's Chorus musical accompanist and in-house composer and arranger, has created many medleys and original contributions to the group's concerts over the years.

This holiday season, Weirick has whipped up something special: a suite of holiday songs that he calls "Pictures of a Season." "I never feel entirely articulate when I'm not playing," Weirick said when approached for an interview about the upcoming holiday concerts. Those who have attended the BGMC's performances probably have a sense for what he means in saying this: Weirick has a talent for tossing off musical phrases at the piano that are as funny, and as a propos, to the moment as any spoken witticism. The members of the chorus, who hear Weirick's musical comments every week at rehearsal, have certainly become accustomed to his talents.

Weirick spoke recently with EDGE correspondent and Chorus member Kilian Melloy about his newest creation.

EDGE: "Pictures of a Season." The printed score says that the piece has been inspired by Moussousky's "Pictures At An Exhibition." Could you say just a little about how you arrived at the idea to address the holidays, and the music of the holidays, in this manner?

Chad Weirick: [BGMC Music Director] Reuben Reynolds asked me around February of this year if I would arrange a piece for the chorus for this seasons Christmas concert. He told me that they were going to be hiring the Empire Brass to perform with us on another piece (the Gwyneth Walker set ["Rejoice"], which I LOVE, by the way) and some assorted percussion.

Well, after thinking about what I could do for a concert closer, I was listening to the radio and heard Pictures At An Exhibition. This got me thinking about a solution as to how to connect together a group of disparate pieces.

For the 'promenade' theme, I chose one of my all time favorite Christmas pieces, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" I really liked using this piece, as each verse seemed to suggest a different type of carol that could follow it. Then I thought I would layer in one thing more, and that is the order of the 'pictures' or scenes would progress, from when The Christmas Season is announced, to Christmas Eve, then Christmas Day etc.

EDGE: You have created medleys for many of the BGMC's concerts, but Pictures of A Season isn't just a medley--it's a complex work, more like a collage. Was your guiding principle in the creation of the piece the acoustics of having one section echo off another (as happens in some passages), or were you thinking more about which holiday songs you wanted to showcase?

Chad Weirick: Before I even wrote a note, I decided on the instruments I would use. Reuben asked for a 'Big finish,' so, what the heck, I would go all out!

Besides the brass quintet, I would use harp, drum set, 3 tympani and a full battery of percussion, from glock to gong and including some very unusual percussion ( 'rutes' on a bass drum for example). Then, knowing the abilities of the chorus, I decided that one extra level I could try was to write for double chorus and soloists.

Pretty sure that that was about as grandiose as I could get, I started writing the piece. The funny thing is, I rarely ended up using the full forces, and many of the movements turned out more intimate than I expected. Not to say that there isn't some bombast when needed!

Since I truly love all styles of music, this was the perfect opportunity to combine traditional carols with gospel style, Gregorian chant, dance and a capella.

The first tune is "Deck The Halls," followed by a full-out gospel version of "Children Go Where I Send Thee." This is followed by probably my favorite sacred Christmas song, "Of The Father's Love Begotten." Then comes chaos!! I decided to add a little "Christmasa Burana," obviously based on Carmina Burana. This is the tune "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day," mixed with "The Lord Of The Dance," and set in a traditional Croatian 9/8 dance rhythm. It is truly pedal to the metal on this one!! (I'll be honest, I was a little worried it would be TOO much, but so far I am happy with how this movement turned out!)

Then comes a bit of self-aggrandizement. I couldn't help it; since I am arranging the tune, I gave myself a big piano solo that is a medley of various carols that I love. It is a vanity moment, but I hope the audience doesn't mind my bit of self-indulgence!

Finally is the "Great Gate of Kiev" ending. I had to come up with something bigger and grander than anything I had ever tried before, so I end with the last verse of "Do you Hear What I Hear," with double chorus, soloists, layers of over-lapping rhythms, and a finish that I hope will let the rafters ring!!! I have to admit that as we have been rehearsing this, it is bigger and grander than I even heard in my head!

I am so excited, not only for this piece, but for the entire concert. It will truly be a sonic spectacular. The BGMC has never sounded better, and it is truly an honor and a privilege to be able to write a piece for this amazing group!

EDGE: And this concert is going to be recorded and issued as a CD release, is that right?

Chad Weirick: Yes, the will be recording this concert for release on CD. It will be a live recording done state of the art. They will record all four shows, and then mix and edit the recordings to make the best possible version of the concert.

EDGE: This must have been a very challenging piece, technically speaking.

Chad Weirick: I only hope I did the best version of things I have learned over the years. Keep the brass out of the way of the singers (tougher to arrange for men's voices than mixed voices since the tessitura is so similar for singers and instruments); remember that Jordan Hall eats up diction for lunch, so fast passages have to orchestrated and arranged to keep things as crystal clear as possible; and, one hit on the bass drum can wipe out the entire chorus and band, so use it judiciously!!

EDGE: I can't wait to hear the fully instrumented version of "Pictures of a Season." To me, it forms the spine of the show--it's the anchor.

Chad Weirick: I truly appreciate your kind comments on the piece. I do not think of it, however, as the anchor of the show. That honor truly goes to Reuben and his musicianship, for the programming of a concert that truly flows in a logical manner.

And mostly, [that honor goes] to the men (and women!) and the Boston Gay Men's Chorus for their artistry and willingness to learn such a difficult, but, I hope, rewarding piece!

The Boston Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Concert "Joy!" will be presented at Jordan Hall in Boston on Sunday, December 12, at 2:00 p.m.; Friday, December 17, at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, December 18, at 8:00 p.m.; and Monday, December 20, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available online.